Why am i still getting really bad cravings for a cigarette after 2 months?

Question

i was a a smoker for 22 years and i gave it up 2 monts ago but i am still getting the cravings and moody and all the rest as if i have just stopped a week ago. nothing is going. i don't understand

Answer 1

my dad gave up 33yrs ago and he says he still craves for one sometimes, but don't give in to it, be strong, go and do something to take your mind off it.

Answer 2

Are you using any sort of nicotine replacement therapy - as you cut down on that then you will experience withdrawal symptoms the same as the first few days of going cold turkey.

It will pass and get better, it only takes 48 hours to get the nicotine out of your system completely so the cravings are likely to be psychological (which doesn't make them any the less strong) try reading the Allen Carr Easyway book, it really helps change your attitude to smoking and cravings.

Answer 3

Normal. If you smoked for that long it will take your body sometime to stop having such cravings.

The truth is you will always get a craving now and then. And you'll need to stay on your toes.

Have you started any new habits that are healthy? If not, try new things... biking, drawing, whatever keeps your mind and hands busy.

Also, I'm going to pass along a site that I used when I quit... there is no way I could have done it without it. Its free and full of support, info, tips, etc. I highly recommend it.

http://www.quitnet.com

Give this time... I promise it gets better.  

Answer 4

it can take along time to quit  just take all the options that can help you quit even hypnosis or start eating a sweet or chew gum every time you need one. you can get these pen things which have niquoteen in them and you just suck like a cigarette i no people who have had them before and they said it helped them quit

Answer 5

Stick with it: My dad's just quit due to having a triple bypass.

He smoked for sixty years.

He's now given up for three months, and said he would cheerfully murder my mother for a cigarette still!!!

Answer 6

It is a mind thing!

There are two types of addiction smokers are subject to...the physical addiction to nicotine and the psychological addiction to the act of smoking.  This is usually worse for those who rolled their own ciggies!

I gave up 2 years ago and I am still subject to urges to smoke.  I think it is fair to say that while the urges lessen over time...we are never non-smokers, only ex-smokers.

Answer 7

You've been smoking for so long and it's only been 2 months. It's an addiction. You have done well to go 2 months. I'm obese and have been all my life and I just can't seem to get the weight off and I think this is an addiction too. Well done anyway for going this long, just keep trying, hang in there.

Answer 8

I am afraid although the physical craving will have worn off, the well established psychological addiction set up by very resistant pathways that nicotine sets up in the brain still remain. It is said that after 2 years the chances of you restarting smoking decrease dramatically. Even then ONE single cigarette is also enough to restart them!

Answer 9

The poison is still in your system and will take a long time to leave your body.  I have never smoked but whenever I am anywhere near a smoker I have this craving to lose my cool because they fill the air with dangerous, smelly fumes.  I don't think I'll ever get it out of my system.  If it helps, just think of all those people who have hated you because of your smoking who would be quite happy to get to know you now.

Answer 10

I smoked for 25 yrs but stopped 8 yrs ago.

It does get easier and you just have to plod on with it. The cravings do eventually go away and you feel healthier  and you smell better aswell. The food tastes better its all good after you get thru them 1st few months.

Answer 11

Pangs of the Craving ---  Be strong

You can do it.

Why .................?

If you are still around other heavy smokers,  you could be getting little hits of nicotine from Passive smoking.

Answer 12

I stopped smoking over sixteen years ago and at times i still could do with a smoke ,so you have still a long way to go .

Answer 13

It is hard to give up cigarettes , cause of the nicotine  which is a kind of drug, your mind will crave for it cause it is like a stimulant and a relaxant . The best thing is to see if there is an alternative ,like nicotine tablets or else consult you local GP for advice.

Answer 14

whenever it happens, take 3 really  long deep breaths and think about something else. it will pass. its not a craving now because you are a non smoker. its your body saying  "something is missing". if you are moody its because you allow yourself to be. its nothing to do with smoking. dont dwell on it. keep  with it. you'll be fine.

Answer 15

Apparently the craving NEVER goes away.

Answer 16

10 points to you, for will power,the craving does take a long while, to go away, but stick with it, and a healthy life to you.

Answer 17

I gave up smoking 10 months ago and the first week was the most difficult for me and slowly every day got better. After a month, I thought that if I could give up for that long, then why bother starting to go all through that again.

I never think about smoking now. It's a drug addiction so not easy, but it does get better. Have you tried the chewing gum to help the symptoms?

The odd thing is, when I smoked it seemed as if nobody smoked, but now I have given up I keep meeting people who smoke. I had one puff on somebody's cigarette about a month ago and felt really bad lol.

I wouldn't start again as I have a different lifestyle overall. I used to be fat and lazy and smoke in front of the TV, but now I love going to the gym and other activities.